Exxon Lawsuit Over Radiation Exposure Nets $1.2M Award for 16 Workers

A Louisiana jury has issued a $1.2 million verdict on behalf of 16 workers who filed a radiation exposure lawsuit against Exxon Mobile Corp. 

The lawsuit was filed by Louisiana employees of Intracoastal Tubular Services (ITCO) who were contracted to clean used oil drilling pipes for Exxon. The plaintiffs claimed that the pipes had naturally occurring radioactive material in them that increased the workers’ risk of developing cancer, according to report by Bloomberg News.

The employees worked on the site near Harvey, Louisiana between 1977 and 1992, and the owner of the property successfully sued Exxon in 2001 for radioactive contamination connected to the pipe cleaning work. Originally, a jury hit Exxon with $1 billion in punitive fees in the 2001 lawsuit, but that was later reduced to $112 million, which Exxon paid with interest after failed attempts at an appeal.

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The lawsuit by the 16 workers included allegations that Exxon failed to warn them of radiation danger because the company feared that the property would be reclassified as a hazardous waste site, which could have cost Exxon hundreds of millions of dollars.

The Gretna, Louisiana jury’s decision awarded the plaintiffs between $10,000 and $175,000 each after a five-week trial. None of the workers have been diagnosed with a radiation-related illness. The lawsuits were filed over Exxon allegedly exposing them to increased risk. The company has settled several claims by workers who actually developed cancer or other radiation exposure health problems.

The jury rejected plaintiff requests to issue punitive damages or to force the company to pay $1.3 million for future medical monitoring.

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10 Comments

  • Big ALDecember 3, 2014 at 1:44 am

    this Harvey terminal radiation case should be investigated by the Feds immediately at once.

  • 318 403 8436December 3, 2014 at 1:35 am

    I received a somewhat acceptable settlement ,but to this date my attorney has failed to come forth with sufficient information to which to reveal that the defendants' attorney(s) to release my accepted funds at State and/or Federal law requires. The FEDS SHOULD NOW BE CALLED STRONGLY TO INVESTIGATE THE INTIRE HARVEY TERMINAL AND/or EXXON MOBIL RADIATION CASE.

  • ShirleyJanuary 3, 2013 at 8:08 pm

    I was raised in the 600-block of Pailet Street, and yes we had orange trees, fig trees, and grew many of our own vegies/ fruit. I lived in that neighborhood from birth to 32-years old with most of my immediate family. Sadly, my grandparents both passed away at 61 & 63-yrs old, plus two uncles, both in their 30's. Those left of my family have become sicker every year. I doubt any of us live[Show More]I was raised in the 600-block of Pailet Street, and yes we had orange trees, fig trees, and grew many of our own vegies/ fruit. I lived in that neighborhood from birth to 32-years old with most of my immediate family. Sadly, my grandparents both passed away at 61 & 63-yrs old, plus two uncles, both in their 30's. Those left of my family have become sicker every year. I doubt any of us live past 65 years old. I signed up for this lawsuit over 20-years ago and never recieved anything (I don't even remember who the attorney/ firm was.. they had a temporary trailer set up on Peters Road), but an aunt just told me about some new developments in the case; hopefully, we will get some help soon.

  • GladysJanuary 2, 2013 at 7:44 pm

    My husband worked for ITCO and has not recieved a penny to this date and as children my family lived in Harvey on Estalotte st for years My mother has since died of cancer and we recieved a check for a little over 200.00 which would be way less after the lawyer takes out his fee . We refused the check and sent it back ..... What's really going on ???

  • IraNovember 9, 2012 at 7:33 pm

    I think it's very rediculous how the people of Harvey was only awarded $108.43 after waiting for all of the years in which we did.. Some lawyers awarded their clients at least $1500. The plaintiffs of Henry Darts office has been back burned after waiting on this suit to clear. We have been told several stories,which none has added up... Justice has not been served. I think it is owed to us,due to [Show More]I think it's very rediculous how the people of Harvey was only awarded $108.43 after waiting for all of the years in which we did.. Some lawyers awarded their clients at least $1500. The plaintiffs of Henry Darts office has been back burned after waiting on this suit to clear. We have been told several stories,which none has added up... Justice has not been served. I think it is owed to us,due to the timely wait,if for nothing else.

  • WilliamsMay 4, 2012 at 1:56 pm

    Wow...This is all I can right about now I understand these workers have been paid off but what about the those people who lived in the naborhood??? Some have received little piss poor checks for 995 an we still have people that havn't received any thing must I mind you guys some of our family's had gardens an fruit trees Where kids from the naborhood ate. God bless the dead my (great grandmother)[Show More]Wow...This is all I can right about now I understand these workers have been paid off but what about the those people who lived in the naborhood??? Some have received little piss poor checks for 995 an we still have people that havn't received any thing must I mind you guys some of our family's had gardens an fruit trees Where kids from the naborhood ate. God bless the dead my (great grandmother) The mother of my (GrandMorther)died of (Brain Cancer an Breast Cancer). And addition to that my (GrandFather) Mother was diagnosed with (Breast Cancer)an (Brain Cancer) just as well. I feel justice havn't been served to us nor the rest of our people that has died. Generations of family's from the early 40's and 50's still remain in this area we are not asking for a hand out we're asking to get the justice we deserve!!

  • DeeFebruary 8, 2012 at 4:59 am

    THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT WAS CHEATED IN THAT CASE MY HUSBAND LIVED IN HARVEY FOR YEARS HE HAVE LOST MOTHER FATHER, BROTHER SO MANY PEOPLE DIED WITH CANCER BECAUSE THEY ARE A BLACK PEOPLE THEY WAS NOT TREAT FAIR.996.00. THAT IS WHAT PAID FOR A PERSON LIFE.THEY JUST THROUGH THAT MONEY OUT TO ANY BODY CAME ON BOARD THAT SAID THEY LIVED IN HARVEY. MY HUSBAND LIVED IN HARVEY FOR OVER 30 YEARS[Show More]THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT WAS CHEATED IN THAT CASE MY HUSBAND LIVED IN HARVEY FOR YEARS HE HAVE LOST MOTHER FATHER, BROTHER SO MANY PEOPLE DIED WITH CANCER BECAUSE THEY ARE A BLACK PEOPLE THEY WAS NOT TREAT FAIR.996.00. THAT IS WHAT PAID FOR A PERSON LIFE.THEY JUST THROUGH THAT MONEY OUT TO ANY BODY CAME ON BOARD THAT SAID THEY LIVED IN HARVEY. MY HUSBAND LIVED IN HARVEY FOR OVER 30 YEARS. IT IS ASHAME HOW THEY WAS TREATED.I JUST WISH WE CAN GET ERIN TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER. I WILL WRITE HER A LETTER.THEY SAID THAT THEY WAS SUPPOSE TO BE PAID FROM THE OTHER COMPANIES WHAT EVER HAPPEN TO THAT IT BEEN YEARS THEY DO NOT EVEN ANSWER THERE PHONES ANYMORE.THIS JUST ENCOURAGE ME TO GET TO WORK ON THIS MATTER,SOMEBODY WILL LET US KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON..

  • ZeldaSeptember 5, 2011 at 2:12 am

    I believe the workers of this site deserve to be compensated and so does the residents of Harvey. Since Judge Greffer received so much money for his land, we should be entitled to something for our lives as well. If not, please ask Judge Greffer to give back the money he was given. If we don't deserve anything, neither does he.

  • BerniceMarch 29, 2011 at 4:36 pm

    I feel like we have been discriminated against left out cheated and misused the reason why i say this because the people like myself and my family the resident of this community have to live with the ongoing problem of this radiation since it started from breathing in the radiation down to eating and drinking the chemical for me to hear about the 16 workers that got there there case own i feel th[Show More]I feel like we have been discriminated against left out cheated and misused the reason why i say this because the people like myself and my family the resident of this community have to live with the ongoing problem of this radiation since it started from breathing in the radiation down to eating and drinking the chemical for me to hear about the 16 workers that got there there case own i feel that justice was served now what about us that had to live right in the mist of this radiation I'm talking about people that have to eat,play,breath,sleep,and wake up to this since in 1977 until now ongoing want justice to be served.

  • deanneNovember 26, 2010 at 5:20 am

    16 people?? what about the thousands like me that lived in the homes in harvey, pailet st, estalotte, and brown street.some of us recieved a $996 check and by the time this is finally all said and done most of us will be dead!

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